Scottish inquiry to examine free care policy

28 Jul 05
The Scottish Parliament's health committee is to conduct an inquiry into the Executive's flagship legislation which provides free personal care for the elderly.

29 July 2005

The Scottish Parliament's health committee is to conduct an inquiry into the Executive's flagship legislation which provides free personal care for the elderly.

It will also examine another major Scottish policy which resulted in the setting up of the Care Commission, a body charged with regulating and inspecting all care services.

Scotland's decision to go it alone in the UK by providing free personal care for the elderly has been controversial because of the costs involved and the uncertainty of these.

In a recent report, the Parliament's audit committee criticised the health department for failing to monitor the cost of the policy, which was introduced three years ago.

The Executive has blamed councils for failing to supply data on the cost of care before it became free.

The convener of the committee, Roseanna Cunningham, said it planned to hold a consultation to ask people affected by the legislation what they felt should be examined. 'This innovative approach will help shape the inquiry from the ground up from the very start,' she added.

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